Extinct animals: 12 extinct species

Extinctions used to be nature’s way of clearing decks for new species to emerge. Even in the distant past, there have been many mass extinctions, the most notable of which was the extinction of at least most dinosaurs 65 million years ago, thanks to what archaeologists believe was a meteorite.

But with the advent of humans, extinction is no longer a prerogative of nature. Humans happily hunted many species to extinction, although admittedly the belief systems of many cultures did not consider it possible to hunt animals to extinction. When people realized that animals could be exterminated because people wanted them for food, because of their fur, feathers, skins, or simply to put their heads on the wall, the species were still under threat of habitat destruction, pollution, poisoning , poaching and climate change. Largely because of this, the world is experiencing another mass extinction. Here is a list of 12 animals that have disappeared forever over the past century:

Animals that have become extinct in the last 10 years

Despite the efforts of conservationists and the awareness of the need to protect certain species, too many animals have disappeared forever in the past 10 years. They include:

# 12 Extinct Animals: West African Black Rhino

This magnificent animal became extinct in 2011 due to habitat destruction, trophy hunting and especially poaching. The animal was massacred for its horns, which were believed to have medicinal properties when consumed in powder and ingested. The western black rhino, a subspecies of the black rhinoceros, was once abundant in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Cameroon. The western black rhino was 9.8 to 12.3 feet long, 4.6 to 5.9 inches at the shoulder, and could weigh up to 3,090 pounds. It also had two horns, the longest of which was 4.6 feet in length.

# 11 Extinct Animals: The Giant Turtle Pinta

The giant Pinta turtle, or Pinta Island turtle, became extinct in 2015. It was a species of the Galapagos tortoise that was found on Pinta Island and exterminated mainly by hunting for food. It was one of 21 species of the genus Chelonoidis, and its scientific name was Chelonoidis abingdonii… The carapace was different in that it had the shape of a saddle, and the tortoise had an unusually long neck.

Pinta Island’s last turtle, Lonesome George, died on June 24, 2012. Biologists tried to mate him with females of related species, but nothing helped. His age ranged from 101 to 102 years old. His taxidermy body is now on display at the Fausto Lleren Breeding Center in the Galapagos Islands.

# 10 Extinct Animals: Formosa Clouded Leopard

The beautiful Formosan Clouded Leopard was classified as extinct in 2013, although areas where it was last seen were protected, and cat hunting was considered taboo by the Rukai people in the area. It was found only in Taiwan, the former name of which was Formosa. It was the second largest carnivorous animal on the island after the Formosa black bear, a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear. This animal still exists, but is listed as vulnerable.

The background of the leopard’s fur was pale or tan, and it bore markings on its sides and shoulders that resembled dark clouds. Its tail was shorter than that of other clouded leopards. The reason for its disappearance, most likely, was the destruction of the habitat due to deforestation.

Animals that have become extinct in the last 20 years

# 9 Extinct Animals: Yangtze River Dolphin

This dolphin, also called baiji, has been considered extinct in the wild since 2008, although some are in captivity. His death is blamed on direct hunting for a dolphin, overfishing when the dolphin was caught in a net or killed by electric shock, collisions with ships, environmental pollution and a devastating impact on the environment due to the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. This happened even when this dolphin is part of Chinese folklore, is a symbol of peace, beauty and prosperity and is actually known as the “Goddess of the Yangtze.”

Baiji are as small as dolphins: males are about 7.5 feet long and females are over 8 feet long. Their backs are gray or pale blue, they have a white belly and a long, narrow beak full of tapered teeth. His eyes are small, since he does not need to see well in a muddy river.

# 8 Extinct Animals: Christmas Island Skates

It is believed that this smallest bat in Australia became extinct in 2009. She was endemic to Christmas Island. He had brownish hair with yellow tips, triangular ears, and a small ponytail. Its body was 1.4 to 1.6 inches long and its tail was 1.2 inches long. He ate insects and spent his days hiding in hollows of trees and rotting vegetation. Unlike most of the species listed here, no one really knows exactly what caused the extinction of this tiny bat, although predators such as feral cats, rats, snakes or the notorious yellow crazy ant could be the cause.

# 7 Extinct Animals: The Saudi Gazelle

This graceful animal, which once roamed the Arabian Peninsula, was declared extinct in 2008, although some biologists believe it was extinct long before this year. Scientists used to believe that the Saudi gazelle is simply a subspecies of the Dorcas gazelle, which is common but vulnerable. The Saudi gazelle was slightly shorter and had a lighter coat. This animal has always been a rarity, and excessive hunting probably decided its fate.

Animals that have become extinct in the last 50 years

# 6 Extinct Animals: Pyrenean Ibex

The Iberian ibex was known for its amazing pair of
h
uge curved ribbed horns worn by the male. This wild goat lived in the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France and was called bucardo or herc in Spain and bouquet in France.

In addition to the horns, the male had a gray or grayish brown coat with black markings that grew back in winter. The female had a predominantly brown coat, and the horns were short and curved back. This species migrates and will climb mountains to mate. In the spring, females descended from the mountain to give birth. In winter, the goats moved to the valleys, cleared of snow and provided food. The Pyrenean ibex was declared extinct in 2000.

# 5 Extinct Animals: Javanese Tiger

The Javanese tiger was declared extinct in 1979 and may have become extinct before that. As the name suggests, it was found on the island of Java in Indonesia. It was once considered a subspecies of the tiger, and it was indeed smaller than some of its brethren. The males were about 98 inches long and weighed 220 to 311 pounds, while the females were slightly smaller and weighed 165 to 254 pounds. It also differed from other tigers in that it had long, thin stripes and was said to be able to break the leg bones of horses and water buffaloes with a single swing of its paw. This tiger was simply hunted and its hunting grounds were converted into agricultural lands.

# 4 Extinct Animals: Guam Flying Fox

This little bat from Guam was thought to have become extinct around 1968, most likely due to habitat change or over-hunting. It was only about 6 inches long, had a wingspan of 28 inches, and weighed no more than 5.4 ounces. It was grayish at the top, golden brown around the neck, and brown everywhere. It was hunted in search of food, and it also fell prey to the aggressive brown tree snake, which not only likely caused its extinction, but also caused the extermination of all native Guam birds.

Animals that have become extinct in the last 100 years

# 3 Extinct Animals: Schomburgk’s Deer

This deer, which was declared extinct by 1938, was native to Thailand. It was very similar to a white-tailed deer and had a dark brown body with a white belly. The underside of its tail was also white, and the male had graceful horns with 33 ends. The females had no horns. Deer lived around swamps and formed groups of one male, several females, and fawns. What made them vulnerable was that when the places where they lived were flooded, they had to climb to higher ground. This made them easy prey for hunters. Hunters aside, habitat destruction sealed the fate of the deer as the swamps began to turn into rice paddies.

# 2 Extinct Animals: Crescent-Tailed Wallaby

This small marsupial, also called the crow, was thought to have become extinct in the 1950s. Found in central and southwestern Australia, it got its name because it had a nail or claw-like structure at the end of its aul. It was an attractive wallaby with soft fur and a white crescent moon wrapped around their body to just above their feet. It weighed about 7.7 pounds, with a body length ranging from 14.5 to 20 inches, and a tail length ranging from 5.9 to 13 inches. It was hunted for food, and it is believed that fox predation contributed to its end.

# 1 Extinct Animals: Xerces Blue

This beautiful blue butterfly was found in San Francisco and became extinct in the early 1940s. The butterfly needed lupine and lotus flowers, and this led to its disappearance. As caterpillars depended on lotus plants, their loss to the development of the city meant the end of the blue color of Xerses. Although an adult butterfly could take nectar from lupine flowers, the caterpillar did not eat the plant. Attempts are now being made to revive this species, and there is a subspecies of the butterfly.